TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwanese badminton star Chou Tien-chen (周天成) lost to former world champion Viktor Axelsen Thursday (Oct. 16) at the BWF Denmark Open, falling 19-21, 12-21 in a 43-minute first-round match. The world's fifth-ranked player was eliminated from the tournament despite leading 15-8 in the opening game.
Chou recently defended his men's singles title at the Finnish Arctic Open but suffered a significant blister on his left foot. With less than two days of rest, he faced Axelsen, who was playing his third match since returning from back surgery in March. Despite leading 15-8 in the first game, Chou's injury and declining stamina allowed Axelsen to mount an 11-1 comeback.
A malfunction in the Hawk-Eye challenge system on Court 1 prevented Chou from contesting a crucial line call at 19-20, costing him the first game. In the second game, Axelsen surged ahead with a 9-1 run after an 8-8 tie, sealing the match in straight sets.
The Denmark Open proved challenging for Taiwanese men's singles players, with only Lee Chia-hao (李佳豪) advancing to the round of 16. Lee will next face Chinese competitor Li Shi-feng (李詩灃). Chou told a Central News Agency (CNA, 中央社), Taiwan's state news agency, reporter that his opponent performed well and he would continue preparing for the Paris Open while addressing his foot injury. ◼
